Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for computer support engineers in the United States
Computer support engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected computer support engineer job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 83,100 new jobs for computer support engineers are projected over the next decade.
Computer support engineer salaries have increased 9% for computer support engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 78,497 computer support engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 122,786 active computer support engineer job openings in the US.
The average computer support engineer salary is $79,531.
Are computer support engineer jobs in demand?
Computer support engineer job and salary trends over time
Computer support engineer jobs over time
Computer support engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78,497 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 138,908 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 82,023 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 57,711 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 56,400 | 0.02% |
Average computer support engineer salary over time
Computer support engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $79,531 | $38.24 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $76,911 | $36.98 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $75,170 | $36.14 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $74,034 | $35.59 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $72,825 | $35.01 | +1.6% |
Computer support engineer jobs by state
Most common states for computer support engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 503 | 72% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 258 | 30% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,358 | 28% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,695 | 28% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 154 | 25% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,586 | 23% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,305 | 23% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 716 | 23% |
| 9 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 470 | 23% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 311 | 23% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 236 | 22% |
| 12 | Alaska | 739,795 | 166 | 22% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 862 | 21% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 205 | 21% |
| 15 | California | 39,536,653 | 7,887 | 20% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 149 | 20% |
| 17 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,173 | 19% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,751 | 18% |
| 19 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 536 | 18% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 105 | 18% |
Most common cities for computer support engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scottsdale | 1 | 0% | $92,371 |
Computer Support Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of computer support engineer experts
Hampton University
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Northwood University
Fairfield University
Texas A&M University San Antonio
University of West Florida
University of Washington
Albertus Magnus College
Arizona State University
American University
Wayne State University
Lawrence Technological University
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Grand Valley State University
Tiffin University
California State University - Long Beach
Grantham University
Utah Valley University
Dominican University
Governors State University
What general advice would you give to a Computer Support Engineer?
Dr. Yohannes Bekele: By entering the computer engineering profession now, individuals can take advantage of the high skilled-power demand in the field, diverse career paths broadly classified under hardware and software sub-areas, lucrative salaries as compared to other fields, continuous learning opportunities, and the potential for entrepreneurship in changing ideas into startup businesses easily. It is a field that offers long-term growth prospects and the chance to contribute to the development of cutting-edge technologies.
What Computer Support Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Yohannes Bekele: A computer engineer's daily tasks can be in the hardware or in the software areas. Some common responsibilities in hardware include designing and developing computer hardware components like processors, circuits and memory devices and creating prototypes and testing hardware products to ensure they meet specifications. In addition, analyzing test data and modifying hardware designs as needed is also the responsibility of a computer engineer. For software side, a computer engineer can do writing code and developing software especially focusing on the underlying hardware and interfacing with it such as kernel level programming and debugging existing software programs and ensuring systems run smoothly. Additionally, a computer engineer is responsible for designing and developing electrical systems and components required for computing systems and modification of electrical circuits based on function assessments. For someone entering the field as a junior or new computer engineer, typical daily activities may involve assisting senior engineers, writing code, testing products, attending training sessions focusing on the above mentioned concentration areas, and participating in meetings to learn about ongoing projects.
What will help Computer Support Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Yohannes Bekele: In being a computer engineer, people like all the advantages in the field including attractive compensation packages and lucrative salaries, the intellectual satisfaction of solving complex problems, opportunities for continuous learning and innovation as technology rapidly evolves, ability to work on cutting-edge technologies and contribute to their development and the diverse career paths across hardware, software, embedded systems, and various industries. The main struggle most people have in becoming a computer engineer is its steep learning curve especially when it comes to hardware design and related areas. It takes years to become proficient in the field as compared to other fields such as software programming where a relatively shorter amount of time is enough to join the workforce. In addition, the ever evolving environment with constantly changing technologies, standards, and the need to keep learning new things makes it difficult to achieve the epitome in the field.
Dr. Darshika Perera Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Computer Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Computer Support Engineer?
Dr. Darshika Perera Ph.D.: One of my main advice for Computer Engineering students is that they should get hands-on experience as much as possible through various courses comprising labs and projects. In order to excel in this field, it is imperative for the students not only to learn the fundamentals but also to get hands-on experience. Also, as professors and educators, we are here to help students to get through their coursework and degree program successfully. Therefore, I would encourage students to have an open dialogue with their professors/instructors, and not to hesitate on approaching them with any concerns/problems encountered during the courses or degree program. My advice is not to get deterred by the years that you have to spend or some of the difficult courses that you have to take, instead consider this as a journey that you are taking to enhance your life and career.
What Computer Support Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Darshika Perera Ph.D.: Most of our computer engineering students at UCCS get job offers before they graduate with salaries ranging from $80k to $110k. Students should go for industry internships before graduating to familiarize themselves with industry settings and boost their career as well as salary potential. Students should emphasize their technical skills and know-how gained throughout their computer engineering degree program, demonstrate how those skills differentiate from other degree programs (such as computer science) and match with the expertise that companies are looking for, and highlight how they can be a valuable asset to the company to maximize their salary potential when seeking careers in this field.
What will help Computer Support Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Darshika Perera Ph.D.: In the realm of computer engineering, embedded systems design and digital systems design will become more important and prevalent. Students have to learn the state-of-the-art techniques to design embedded systems, which includes programming the embedded microprocessor/microcontrollers using embedded programming such as embedded C, in order to interface with the associated hardware such as sensors and actuators, and also to design corresponding hardware circuits. It is also imperative for the students to learn the state-of-the-art techniques and skills to design digital circuits, using hardware-description languages (HDL) such as Verilog and VHDL. Digital circuit designs, including programmable logic such as FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), are becoming very popular among the industry for various applications.
Professor David Sanford
Associate Professor an Department Chair (MIS, CS, CYB MGT, IS CYB)Northwood University
Computer And Information Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Computer Support Engineer?
Professor David Sanford: Workers like that they are challenged to solve problems and lead technological innovations.
They appreciate the diversity of projects
They enjoy the need for continuous improvement and education
Many see the global impact of their work.
They also desire and appreciate the need for versatile skills
A competitive salary is also an item that employees like
Workers dislike that the work can be stressful
Dealing with tight deadlines and/ or cybersecurity concerns.
This is a positive and a negative: The need to constantly stay up to date with technology can be a bit overwhelming for some.
There may be times of isolation, and
The unexpected system failures can be frustrating as they often require extra hours or the need to be on-call.
The multiple responsibilities and managing repetitive tasks are also issues workers point out in this field.
In short, the workplace offers exciting opportunities but comes with its fair share of pressures and challenges. Different people have different experiences based on their roles and personal preferences.
What skills stand out on Computer Support Engineer resumes?
Dr. Harvey Hoffman: The United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts outstanding and lucrative career opportunities whether graduates specialize in computer engineering, which emphasizes computer design and development, or computer science, which focuses on computing theory, data analysis, cybersecurity, algorithms, and computer networks.
I could predict that the future trends lay solely in the technologies associated with artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, bioinformatics, embedded systems, and big data, but I would probably be incorrect. The engineering profession faces a whirlwind of technology and social change. It has been said that the half-life of an engineer is about five years, perhaps less. The key to survival is adaptation to a dynamic profession and world. Today's engineers must constantly be aware of technology's changing expectations and learn new skills and competencies.
Newly minted engineers must take ownership of their careers, whether mastering a new computer language or tool or becoming proficient in a totally different discipline. Engineers should consider improving their communication skills to improve interactions with their team, clients, and management. They need to clearly communicate complex ideas and technical project plans. Good writing, listening, and presentation skills are imperative. Today's workforce must take personal initiative to maintain their relevance.
The key to remaining highly employable, successful engineers is to constantly learn, upgrade skills, and constantly adapt to new situations.
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Information SystemsTexas A&M University San Antonio
Computer Information Systems Department
What soft skills should all Computer Support Engineers possess?
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.: -Ability to work as part of a team.
-Attention to detail.
-Problem-solving and analytical skills.
What skills will help Computer Support Engineers earn the most?
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.: My personal view is that instead of following the skills that command higher salaries, one should focus on a field that you like and feel at ease with. Instead of following the money, one should follow your heart, and money will eventually follow.
Dr. Thomas Gilbar Ph.D.
Chair and LecturerUniversity of West Florida
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What hard/technical skills are most important for Computer Support Engineers?
Dr. Thomas Gilbar Ph.D.: There are quite a few hard/technical skills that are important for Computer Engineers. We've found a lot of managers are looking for comfort in a variety of programming languages, including C++, C#, Java, Python, etc. Also, try to have a background in a variety of operating systems (certainly windows and mac, but also having experience on Apple iOS, Android, and even Linux will give you a leg up on the competition). Having at least some experience in data/cyber security is also important these days. On the hardware side, programming and applying microcontrollers and VHDL/Verilog programming are extremely important. VLSI design is also a nice addition to skill sets, though in most cases, not a deal-breaker. Circuit and electronic design are also very important skills to supplement your microcontroller skills.
What skills will help Computer Support Engineers earn the most?
Dr. Thomas Gilbar Ph.D.: Selling yourself is absolutely vital. Technical skills are certainly critical to success as a computer engineer, but the employers we work with are also looking for students who are a good "fit" with their organization. Fit differs by organization, so do your research, so you know what they do and what they're looking for before submitting that resume/cover letter and going into an interview. Show that you don't just want any job, but you want this job and what you can bring to their organization and its goals. Most often, your fit will be determined by showcasing soft skills like communication, leadership, critical thinking, professionalism, teamwork, and other related skills. UWF's Office of Career Development & Community Engagement has developed the Argo2Pro Career Readiness Program, which is designed to provide students with vital career readiness skills and assist them in providing evidence to employers that they are both academically prepared and career-ready. Take advantage of these types of programs. They, like most other Universities, also offer mock interviews, resume reviews and even help students review job offers.
What skills stand out on Computer Support Engineer resumes?
Dr. Thomas Gilbar Ph.D.: Resumes can be tricky things. You want to introduce yourself without overloading the reviewer. Note that this doesn't mean just listing technical skills. I heard from one of our alumni that grammar and misspellings will land a resume into the discard pile almost immediately. I can't emphasize how important it is to proofread resumes and cover letters before submitting them. Keep it neat and easy to follow. It is their first (and possibly only) impression of you, so make it good.
Aside from that, anything that emphasizes your leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills is always a plus. Any examples of seeing a project from beginning to end (including budgeting, planning, and design) are good. From a technical standpoint, being up to date on hot programming languages is pretty much required. Knowledge and comfort with a variety of operating systems are also important. Since we are talking about Computer Engineers and not Computer Scientists, make sure to emphasize hardware/software integration skills. Any experience you have with microcontroller design and applications is a huge plus, and don't leave out knowledge of PLD/FPGA design, programming, and testing.
What soft skills should all Computer Support Engineers possess?
Dr. Thomas Gilbar Ph.D.: Communication skills, as I mentioned before, are absolutely vital. Note this means not only written but also verbal skills. I have had some excellent students struggle to find a job because their interview and communication skills are lacking. If you are given an opportunity to do a mock interview with the career services department at your University, take it.
Besides that, the soft skills mentioned most often by employers are time and project management. Plan to enthusiastically discuss any projects you worked on from start to finish. If you have no experience, those capstone projects required in just about every engineering program become absolutely vital. Don't skimp just to get it done. Choose a project that you can be proud of and that showcases your abilities. Emphasize any leadership roles you have had and your experience with working on a team.
Don't forget to show that you are willing and able to learn. Computer Engineers work in a very large variety of companies. The chances of your BSCE program covering everything you need are slim to none. Be ready to discuss things that you picked up on your own and emphasize your openness and excitement to learn more.
Rania Hussein Ph.D.
Associate Teaching ProfessorUniversity of Washington
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
What skills stand out on Computer Support Engineer resumes?
Rania Hussein Ph.D.: Familiarity with embedded systems design and firmware programming. IoT came to the spotlight because of COVID-19 and the need to work on projects remotely. This will likely tend to grow post-pandemic.
What soft skills should all Computer Support Engineers possess?
Rania Hussein Ph.D.: Being coachable, know how to learn and figure things out, effective communication skills, continuous self-development.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Computer Support Engineers?
Rania Hussein Ph.D.: C language and hardware description language, such as Verilog, microcontrollers and FPGA programming, computer organization, and low-level programming in assembly.
What skills will help Computer Support Engineers earn the most?
Rania Hussein Ph.D.: Continuous professional development and working on side projects to learn new technical and marketable skills.
David Garaventa
Director, Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity Programs, Assistant Professor, CISAlbertus Magnus College
Business Administration and Management Department
What skills stand out on Computer Support Engineer resumes?
David Garaventa: The skills/attributes required across a variety of jobs in the IT fields.
Robert Rucker
LecturerArizona State University
School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
What hard/technical skills are most important for Computer Support Engineers?
Robert Rucker: From step 2, knowing a particular technology very well may not match the employer's needs, so there is a real need to articulate principles (the hard part of education). For example:
1. Need to know how to design and implement ( or contribute to) a 'principled' information base (this is a skill my students encounter routinely)
a. Designing an information system requires knowing multiple levels of analysis and synthesis
- I teach the undergrad and graduate levels of database
( I have been teaching' conceptual level modeling --- using Object role modeling ( this is a layer above ER and relational, and has been underappreciated IMO
b. relational level analysis using SQL
implementational level using T-SQL
c. NoSQL using Couchbase and SQL++ and hence the key-value mode of storage
implementation ( SQL + NoSQL seem essential in this world of federated databases !)
d. Of course, there is the underlying substrate of approaching an info task in the first place!
2. For what it's worth, I also teach big data. Again, finding (understanding) and exemplifying the principles underlying the algorithms and data development is crucial.
Anthony Baron
Teaching Assistant, Associate Software EngineerAmerican University
What soft skills should all Computer Support Engineers possess?
Anthony Baron: The main soft skills I would say are needed for Computer Science software engineering are patience, perseverance, creativity, respect, teamwork, and openness to learning and teaching. Programming involves a lot of trial and error, researching, and learning better techniques for solving a problem. Due to this, patience and perseverance to reach the final goal in mind are crucial. When it comes to the learning aspect, there are many languages, frameworks, and libraries, and working with them involves a steeper learning curve than others. On top of this, there are often more elegant ways to program a solution, and many new frameworks and libraries are released throughout the industry. This is where patience and perseverance is also a virtue. Lastly, programming and creating a product are often done in teams, where working together and learning from each other is important.
Dr. Nabil Sarhan Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorWayne State University
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Support Engineers?
Dr. Nabil Sarhan Ph.D.: It seems that companies will continue to embrace or allow remote work at least for certain jobs, such as those related to software development, computer/system architecture, and VLSI. Therefore, employees may be required to work in geographically distributed teams and should have excellent communication and teamwork skills. In this case of the remote work environment, companies will select future employees primarily based on their skills regardless of their locations, and thus U.S. graduates will likely find themselves in even greater competition against a global workforce.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Computer Support Engineers?
Dr. Nabil Sarhan Ph.D.: As graduates will find themselves in even greater competition against a global workforce, they will need to differentiate themselves by enhancing their problem-solving, design, communication, and teamwork skills. Graduates can further enhance their job prospects by obtaining graduate degrees. The industry also appreciates certifications and/or courses in AI, machine learning, embedded systems, cloud computing, VLSI, and security, web development, and software engineering. Collaborating in open-source software and having experience in state-of-the-art tools will be appreciated. If none of these is possible, the student should at least invest the time and effort in completing an impressive graduation or capstone project and should do his/her best in the senior course projects as they will demonstrate having the necessary practical experience.
What will help Computer Support Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Nabil Sarhan Ph.D.: The graduates can increase their earning potential by obtaining master's degrees or certificates based on the current market needs. These qualifications are expected to become increasingly more important because of the rising competition in the marketplace.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Support Engineers?
Oriehi Destiny Anyaiwe: There is a high possibility that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic will endure but one cannot easily put a time frame to it. This impact will be felt by everyone, not just graduates or computer science graduates in particular. Jobs have been lost, companies are finding it hard to turn a profit and some are needing to close, whereas some others like the tech companies are prospering and doing well. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the scope and teaching of computer science courses including students' senior projects and research have been coined to groom students to meet unprecedented standards. Thus, I can confidently say that computer science graduates stand at an advantageous position in the post pandemic marketplace; however, there will still be hills to climb so long as the synergy that hitherto existed between the crop of companies suffer.
What technical skills for a Computer Support Engineer stand out to employers?
Oriehi Destiny Anyaiwe: Attitude. Anyone can memorize a programming language and have a perfect syntax, but if you cannot find your way out of a paper bag you do the company no good. In today's marketplace, problems/business are tackled with a collaborative view. Employers will like to hire employees that have the skill set and potential to explain problems/solutions to non experts as well as working amicably with them.
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Community Engagement & Internationalization Officer, Professor of Information Systems & Quantitative Analysis, Director, Executive Master’s of Science in Information Technology (EMIT) Program, Executive Director, Center for Management of IT (CMIT), Fulbright Grantee (Specialist 2014; Core 2020-21)University of Nebraska at Omaha
College of Information Science & Technology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Support Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.: Employment in the computer and information technology field were expected to grow by 11 percent between 2019 and 2029, according to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). I do not think this will be lower post-Covid; in fact the demand for talented IT workers will substantively higher.
High tech entry level jobs will continue to be in areas such as software development (Java, Javascript, Python, etc.); Agile Methodology; Automation Engineers; AI/ML Developers/Analysts; Cybersecurity; Data Analysts/Data Engineers; Natural Language Processing; DevOPS; Project Management; Cloud Technologists; Parallel Computing; Quantum Computing; Digitalization or Supply Chain and Business Process Automation; Medical/Bio/Health Informaticians with a computing focused understanding of life and medical sciences. The ones in bold are what I would consider hot skills for the future and these will absolutely grow.
I also think general understanding of these important emerging areas will become important for non-IT employees as well. I would argue that all jobs will be "tech" jobs to some extent as automation and industry 4.0/5.0 takes hold across sectors; all college graduates will need to have exposure, if not competence, in aspects of technology that affect all business functions.
What's a good job out of college for Computer Support Engineers?
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.: I think the "best" and "interesting" jobs in my view will be those that leverage emerging technical skills such as AI/ML, data analytics, cybersecurity and medical informatics, with the nontechnical capabilities mentioned above.
What technical skills for a Computer Support Engineer stand out to employers?
Chirag Parikh Ph.D.: If you ask me, I consider valuable experience over good paycheck. Once you have gained that experience the paycheck will follow. As soon as you are out of college, the knowledge gained is very fresh and raring to go. If put into the right place can enhance your technical skills and you can do wonders.
As a Computer Engineering professor, I would say the job opportunities are tremendous for students out of college as they can venture into hardware field (technical support, hardware engineer, test engineer and much more) as well as software field (software engineer, software developer, software tester and much more). The possibilities are endless.
With COVID and employees working remotely there is still ample opportunity to enhance your technical and interpersonal skills as I believe remote working might stay for a while till things get back to normal.
What type of skills will young Computer Support Engineers need?
George Miller: Many organizations realize graduates cannot learn everything in college about their major but want the graduate to have a solid foundation on their field of study. The organization wants to mold the graduate to their company environment with how they do things related to the field of study. Most companies want college graduates to have good communication skills (both oral and written), critical thinking skills and be able to work well in teams. These skills have been a staple for graduates since I can remember. This is why a college graduate takes many general education courses related to these skills and many of their major courses emphasize these skills.
Going back to the previous answer I believe graduates in all fields of study will need a better knowledge of technology and easier adaptability to changing technology. Again, an IS degree is already preparing students for this.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Support Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Lesley Farmer: Many employees have trouble pivoting to online work so in the short term, tech support and instructional design jobs are in high demand. Data privacy and security are also hot topics and need ed tech expertise. Tech maintenance, including cloud services and networks, continue to be needed, rather like car maintenance. Thinking forward, software development is another area of need, particularly with more online-based education. If grads have data analytics expertise, they can find jobs on data management and learning analytics.
Disabilities continue to be an issue, particularly in terms of equity, so jobs dealing with assistive technology and other ed tech supports are possible. Finally, grads should broaden their concept of educational settings; informal education is more important than ever: in business/HR, libraries and museums, recreational and youth-serving clubs, mass media, government and non-profit agencies. All of these entities are involved in training, outreach, PR, and public awareness/education. Be creative and persistent.
What general advice would you give to a Computer Support Engineer?
Dr. Lesley Farmer: Get to know the site before interviewing, and remember that even interviews are an opportunity to practice communication skills-and to see if there's a good match between you and the site. Once hired, learn about the organizational culture and develop trustful relationships. Make one memorable contribution the first month, but focus on becoming an expert before changing others. In addition, join a local and national professional association to keep current and network.
What Computer Support Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Lesley Farmer: Internships are probably the best option, even if unpaid. Some institutions provide career placement services, and grads could contact their instructors about possible options. Companies, professional associations, and non-profits also advertise internships.
What experience really stands out on Computer Support Engineer resumes?
Lisa Sietstra: The job seeker's experiences will stand out when they've described previous accomplishments and shown a potential employer the value they have added in the past. Students/recent graduates (or really any job seeker at all) need to include quantifiable data in their statements; clearly painting a picture of achieved results. Connect the dots for the recruiter or hiring manager and really show that you have the potential to join the team and immediately contribute in positive ways.
Add details about academic projects if you do not yet have work experience in your field. Include a section of highlights from your coursework that applies to what the company is asking for in the job description.
Curtis Welborn
ProfessorUtah Valley University
Computer Science Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Support Engineers?
Curtis Welborn: Not that I can see. The high tech sector and jobs for CS students remains very strong, and as the economy recovers, these areas will continue to grow as they have over the past 40 years.
What type of skills will young Computer Support Engineers need?
Curtis Welborn: First, they need a strong fundamental understanding of Computer Science. People think they have to learn language X or environment Y or this thing or that thing because it is hot. Well, the thing to know about Computer Science jobs is there is always some new thing, always some new language better than the last, always something that is hot. Learning the hottest new thing might get you a job today, but it will not keep you a job tomorrow.
Having strong fundamental skills in Computer Science will equip you to learn ANY new thing. A good fundamental education in CS includes knowledge of programming languages, data structures, database, computer architecture, internet programming and networking, incremental design and development, and some advanced topic, which can vary based on a person's interest. Beyond this, everyone should have a basic understanding of math and the ability to write clearly because you always have to write something.
What experience really stands out on Computer Support Engineer resumes?
Curtis Welborn: That can really depend upon the company. Some companies want people with a strong background in machine learning right now. But I've met people who shy away from hiring people with too much machine learning on their resume even when the company wants someone to do machine learning because too many of these people only want to, or only can, do machine learning. They don't have a strong fundamental understanding of Computer Science (see No. 2). Our students who complete the Compiler course get jobs, not because companies are building a compiler but because companies know that someone who can build a compiler can most likely do anything they would want done. So people should not focus on finding that thing that makes their resume look good today. Just be great at everything you do. Take hard classes, and excel at them. Learn EVERYTHING you can, and companies will want you.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Support Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Kate Marek Ph.D.: Probably an acceleration of existing trends - remote working, skill-set based job openings (rather than degree-specific), along with an ongoing need for necessary skills such as writing, problem-solving, collaboration, and project management.
What Computer Support Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kate Marek Ph.D.: If possible, find a paid internship in your area of interest, which will help expand your professional network and build your skillset. Use this time to keep scanning job ads to identify skill sets in demand; look for online mini-courses to make those skill sets.
What general advice would you give to a Computer Support Engineer?
Kate Marek Ph.D.: Choose an organization in tune with one's values. Look for a job in growth areas, such as data asset management, data analysis, etc.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Support Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Stephen Hyzny: Security, as more people need online services, the protection behind that technology will be needed.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Computer Support Engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Stephen Hyzny: IoT having small devices connected to networks that control everything in our lives will become more integrated into our lives.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Computer Support Engineers in the next 5 years?
Stephen Hyzny: As everything involves technology, more educated people will need it in the future. As our cars, houses, and lives connect, people will be required to make it all work.